PMT Spring Dance Series: Performance is Key

Eclectic…energetic…imaginative! Those three words best describe my impressions of PMT's Sunday afternoon (April 19) performances, and after talking with PMT founder Pavan Thimmaiah, I would venture to say they describe the entire series, as well as the studio's overall approach.

The showcase started before the studio began, Thimmaiah explained in an interview. His goal was to provide opportunities for novice dancers to perform, and so he ran performance workshops in which students learned choreography, and also how to conduct themselves professionally onstage, backstage, during rehearsals and auditions.

The PMT Seasonal Showcase, a not-for-profit company, has since spawned a dance studio and a rich program that involves not only PMT dancers, but other dance groups, as well. At this point, the company auditions about 40 groups per season for its showcases, and the studio runs not only performance workshops, but ongoing classes in a range of styles, including hip hop, capoiera, Haitian dance, African dance, salsa, jazz, poppin', break dancing, contemporary styles, and more.

"The idea is to benefit performers and help them get themselves out there," Thimmaiah stresses. In addition, as the showcase company mission states: "….We provide all those who take part in our showcases with free and discounted rehearsal space, free professional photography, and free advertising in our program. A few selected dance act/companies will be given personal showcases of their own, produced by the PMT Seasonal Showcase Company, exhibiting a full collection of their work. Furthermore, we provide big discounts and other incentives in an effort to have underprivileged youth, who would normally not be able to see or afford a show like this, the chance to see a quality showcase. It's our continuing goal to provide our performers and our audience members with the best possible performance experience."

It's an ambitious undertaking that seems to be succeeding. The diversity of the Sunday performances was striking — from hip hop/break dancing to modern, jazz, and retro rock. Eight pieces were showcased in the hour-long show, enough to whet the appetite without overloading it.

Looking ahead, Thimmaiah envisions "expanding what we offer to performers, with more hours and more connections to the dance world. We'd like to take more groups each year and do higher level productions in different venues — perhaps a week- or month-long festival at some point." From what I've seen thus far, I can only say: Go for it!